Multiple spindle planetary gear generating machine



July 7, 1953 E. w. MILLER l r2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE July 7, 1953 I E. w. MILLER 2,644,368,

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERTING MACHINE lOSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20. 1947 E. w. MILLER f 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE July 7, 1953 Filed Nov. 20. 194'? July 7, 1953 E. w. MILLER, 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 194'? 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 7 1953 E. wZ MULLERA 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR .GENERATING MACHINE July 7, 1953 E. W. MlLrLER MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20. 194'? 1Q Sheets-[Sheet 6 jaw/2i? @afd z MJ July 7, 1953 E. w. MILLER 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20. 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 July 7, 1953 E. w.'M1| ER 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 194'? 1 0 Sheets-Sheet 8 E. W. MILLER July 7, 1953 MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATI'NG MACHINE- Filed Nov. 2G. 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 7, 1953 E. w. MILLER 2,644,368

MULTIPLE SPINDLE PLANETARY GEAR GENERATING MAcHrNE 1'0" sheets-sneet'lo Filed Nov. 20. 194'? I W. .m jew/ZW w j @WM/M71 Patented July 7, 1953 MULTIPLE ASPINDLE PLANETAR'Y"GIEA/R-v i GENERATING MACHINEv i Eawara'w. Miller, springeldgvt., assig'norf to The Fellowsv Gear Shaper Company@ Springp. eld, Vt.',.a,.corporation ofvermont" "f Application November 20, 1947, vSerial No.. '187;047

Claims. (Cl. 90"--7 The present invention. is; concerned with. gear shaping machines having a plurality of Vwork spindles which are revolved in an orbit around a central igearshapingcutter and are rotated their axes at the same time and `at suitable. angular velocities to cause workv pieces carried by them toY roll inv mesh with the. cutter. Thecutter meanwhile'is reciprocated rapidly inaxialalinement with the axisaround which the work spindlesrevolve and is withheld. from vrotation about'itsaxis, except when provided with helical teeth for generating `helical lgears, in which -case itfis given an angularmovement back and forth simultaneouslyvwith its strokes in opposite directions conformably with the langular component ofthe helices in which itsteeth-are arranged. In its genera-l nature it is like the planetary gear shapingmachine disclosed in my prior Patent 1,990,240, granted February 5, 1935, but it includes novel featuresby which adjustment for accommodating work pieces of diilerentdiameters andl substitutionof different cuttersforfone another are simplified and made easier,l protection is afforded against spoiling' work pieces or injuring the cutter if a blank work piece is .improperly loaded on a. work spindle, improved means'for backingoi the lwork spindles to avoid rubbingr during noncuttingy strokes of the cutter, and otherwise to improve the machine. The objects and novel characteristics of the invention can best befexplained in connection'with. the description'of a concrete embodiment.

The following specification. and accompanying drawings disclose the salient features ofzaspecific multiple spindleplanetary gear shapingmachine in which the-invention is-contained. In these drawings, Y

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the machine taken on a plane extendingfrom front to rear through the alined axes of thecuttervand ofthe orbit. in which thework spindles arerevolved;

Fig. 2 is an approximately horizontal section taken online-2-'2of Fig. Yl; v

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sections taken on lines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2; l

Fig. 5 is a left hand side view of `the machine and a partial section taken online 55 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 6-is a vertical section-taken online 6-6 of Fig.` 1 and viewed fromthe rear;

Fig. 7 is a Vertical section taken on line 1 -1 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is `ahorizontal sectionalV view taken on line 8--8-of Fig. 7 and shown on a largerscale;

Fig.. 9 is a-detai1jsection takenzon line 9--9 Yof Fig. 8;

Yof the last series to provide room .Figs 10` and 11arehorizontaldetail sections taken on lines Ille-I0 andt lI-l l, respectively, of Fi'g.11; l

Fig. 1'2 isa detailplan view of the parts below the line I2-I2 ofAFigs. l and 7;

Fig..13 is a` detail vertical sectional view Vtaken on line 13j- I3 dof,A Fig. 7 and, shown. on aV larger scale;..` l

`Fig.'14 isa detail sectional view taken on line .la-I4 of Fig. .7; Y .1

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view of a jack by which cutters are placed in connection with the cutterjspindle ofthe machine; w

Figj. 16 is a cross section online I6-,I6 of Fig.115; u n t c Fig. 17`is'a plan viewof thecutter spindle and the work spindles of this vmachine, with work pieces thereon, in their operative-relationship;

Fig. 18 is' an elevation of a panel on which control switches forthe operating circuits of the machine and signal lamps in such circuits are mounted;

Fig. 19 is aV -diagram showing the means by which motion is imparted to the operating elements of the machine and the interrelationship of the parts thereof. I Y

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

A number of rwork spindlesl Si, shown in Fig. 17 as'six, but there may be more or fewer, are mounted rotatablyin a turret T which also is rotatable andthe axis of rotation of which is parallelto the axesofl the spindles. A circular cutter Cvv of -vthegear Shaper type is supported independently of the turret with its axis in alinement with the-axis of the turret. The cutter is providedwith a number of'groups of teeth t1, t2; 123,' #and t5 disposed on avcommon pitch circle-and lformed'with cutting edges on one end and'with side clearance.- All Vthe teeth of each group' are alike, but those of lsuccessive groups insequence' are ofgreaterv widths and heights than those of preceding" groupsin order to generate theteeth of work gears in a succession of steps; At one side ofthe cutter'there'is aV gap G betweenfthe teeth t1 of the first series and t5 for removing finished workpieces from'thework spindles S,.and placingblanks on them',when the spindles come adjacent to the gap inl the course of their revolution.v yThe work spindles are spaced around theturret axis and located at such distancestherefromthatall ofthe work pieces, except the one besidefthe gap G, canbe acted on bythe cutter at lthe Sametime.v The number of rcutter teeth in each group is equal to, or may be greater than, the number of teeth to be cut in the work pieces in order that the entire toothbearing arc of each work piece will be acted on while traversing each group of teeth in rolling mesh therewith.

ln the operation of the machine, a finished occupies a bearing 24 in platen 2| and centers the turret. The end thrust bearing of the turret is afforded by an annular worm gear 25 which is secured to the bottom of the turret concentrically therewith and bears on a flat upper surface 26 of the platen near the circumference thereof.

A massive superstructure 21 is secured to the base and contains a guideway axially alined with the turret and its centering hub 23 inwhich a cutter spindle 28 is mounted to reciprocate endwise. Such guideway includes a bushing 29 surrounding the lower end portion ofthe spindle, and complemental guides 30 and 3| secured to the superstructure and the spindle, respectively. The latter guides have overlapping surfaces in the nature of splines, which may be parallel to the axis of the spindle for use with spur type cutters, or helical for cutters with helical teeth (such as the one illustrated in these drawings). and are interchangeable together with spur and helical cutters of Varioushelical leads. The cutter is secured removably to an adapter 32, which is secured'to the end of the spindle 28 below the bushing 29.

The cutter spindle is reciprocated by an electric motor 33 (Figs. 6 and 19) which drives a crank shaft 34 by means of a belt 35, pulley 35, shaft 3?, change gears 38, 39, shaft 40 and gears 4l and 42. the` last named of which vis on the crank shaft. A crank pin 43, radially adjustable on the crank shaft (Fig` l1) is coupled by a connecting rod 44 with one arm of a lever 45 (pivoted at 46), the other arm of which is a gear segment 47 meshing with encircling rack teeth 48 on the spindle. This connecting rod is adjustable in length and as to the point along its length where it is engaged with a wrist pin 49 on lever 45, so that the position of the cutter, as well as the length of its stroke, can be regulated` in accord'- ance with work pieces of different characters.

One of the work spindles and the mechanisms by which it is mounted in the turret are shown in Fig. l, with additionaldetailed showing in Figs. 7', 8 and l2. All the spindles and their movements are like, wherefore the following description of the one here shown in detail will suice for all.

The spindle S is rotatable in abearing sleeve 50 secured to an apron I, which in turn is held by an apron carriage 52 supported on the turret structure. The apron 5I is movable on carriage 52 through a short distance radially, or approximately so, to the turret aXis for the purpose of backing 01T the work to avoid rubbing contact withY the cutter teeth duringnoncutting strokes of the latter, and bringing the work into operating position prior to cutting strokes; and the carriage 52 is adjustable radially for aCCOmmO- A central tubular hub 23 pro-'I jecting downward from the bottom of the turret 4 dating work pieces and cutters of different diameters to one another.

Carriage 52 is suspended between two ribs 53 and 54 of the turret structure, which lie on opposite sides of, and are parallel to, the common radial plane of the turret and spindle, being supported by. flanges 55 and 56 which rest on the ribs and are provided with elongated slots 51 through which clamp bolts 58 pass. Lateral bearing surfaces 59 and 50 (Fig. '7) on the ribs and carriage accurately maintain the prescribed alinement of the carriage with the radius on which it is located.

Radial adjustment of the carriage 52 is effected by rotation of a screw 6|, held rotatably, and against endwise movement, in the outer wall of the turret, which meshes with a nut E3 secured to the outer wall of the carriage. A graduated dial S4 secured to the outer end of screw 6I serves for applying torque to the screw and measuring adjustments of the carriage.

' The carriage is of generally open box formation suiiiciently deep to receive the apron 5I and bushing 5U, with an opening in its bottom through which the lower end of the spindle S protrudes. The apron is supported in the carriage by a flange B5 on the upper end of bushing 50 (Fig. l), a i'iange 66 (Fig. 7) which overlies and restson a bearing surface (il, and a blockk (Figs. `1 and 7) which underliesl vthe apron and rests on a stud 69 threaded laijustably through the bottom of the rear part of carriage 52. In its backing off and return movements, the apron is rguided by contact plates 'l0 and'l (Fig. l2) on the carriage and bushing flange, respectively, and by a lateral contact surface 12 at the same side and rear portion of the apron. A stiff spring 73 seated in ,a pocket in the apron exerts force against the opposite side of the carriage and maintains the apron firmlyv against the guide surfaces l0 and 12. The rear wall of the carriage 52 is formed as a seat 'I4 complemental to the adjacent side of bushing 5U against which the latter is rmly held when cutting strokes are being performed. Backing off and return movements are imparted to the apron by a cam 75 (Fig. 8) called the back olf cam, and cooperating springs, later described. The cam is secured to a shaft 'IB and bears on a roller 11 carried by one arm of a lever 18, the

other arm of which carries a gear segment 'I9 in mesh with a rack 80, made as a tubular screw or worm mounted on the apron. The tubular helical rack is mounted rotatably in the apron 5I in axial alinement with the adjusting screw 6|, but is withheld from relative endwise movement. A shaft extension Sla from screw El passes through the tubular rack 8D and carries splines 8l parallel to its axis in engagement with complemental internal splines in the rack. The threads of the screw 6I and rack 80 are equal in lead and opposite in inclination in order to permit adjustment of the carriage and apron without disturbing the back o lever 78.

'I'he back off cam shaft IS and pivot 82 for the back on lever are mountedfin the turret structure with their axes parallel (vertical in this instance), shaft 16 being supported by bearings. The mounting for one of the cam shafts is shown at 83 in Fig. 1, the spindle apron with which cam 'l5 there shown is related being at the opposite side of the turret axis from the spindle S shown in that figure. The springs which cooperate with the back off cam are shown at 84 in Fig. l. They are arranged to react between the apron and its carriage so as to take up backlash between' the rack -80 vand Jsegment `'I9' and maintain the 'roller 11' "iniic'ontact with. thefback off cam. They exert constantf'frce tending' to withdraw the' apron. from thefseat14, and: effective lto do Vso" whensperm'itted by the `low vpar-tof 'the cam. A. bar 85 is. secured to'the sidesriof the apronV carriage 52 overlyin'gandhol'ding down the apron;

The work pieces may be secured to thework spindles by 'various means. One such meansv is shown in. Fig. 1 consisting Vof. a head stock 86 secured to the apron so as to overhang the spindle, having a slidingl clamp or center movable ,toward and. away from the spindle by .an armi 811,

and a holding clamp for the slide voperable by' an arm-.83. Apan 489 is arranged adjacent 'to 'the spindle to catch lubricating uidfand'chips Yand conduct them to a central passageway'90 through the hub of the turret. The matterissuingifrom this passageway is deflected by'a surface 9| linto theVV housing 92 of a screw conveyer 93`which is driven by an electric motor 94 throughasprocket and chai-n drive 95,

A comprehensive diagram ofthe driving mechanisms, showing the interrelation of the-various parts is given by Fig. 19.v This figure shows the motor 33, which may be called the stroke motor, and the train, previously described, by which.` it reciprocates the cutter spindle 28. It also shows another electric motor 96, which may loe-called the feed motor, from which poweris furnished to drive the turret, work spindles, back-off cam, and cams for actuating controll switches later described. Y Y

Feed motor 96, through a chain and sprocket drive 9'|drives a-'shaft 98 (see also Figs. 2 and 3) which through ratio gears 99, |03; shaft lill,

change gears |02, |03, shaft |04, gears |35, |36, shaft |01 and'bevel gear pair |08, drives a shaft |09. The latter shaft carries 'a bevel gear ||0 (shown also in Figs. 5 and 7) in mesh Ywithv a bevel gear on shaft ||2 fromv which power is delivered through bevel gear pair ||3`to a shaft ||4 which carries the turret driving worm H5 in mesh with the turret worm wheel 25.

Shaft |09 carries alsoA the first element, H5, of a train of change gears H6, ||8 and H9, the last of which is mounted on a shaft |20 which drives a large ring gear |2| through bevel gears |22, a-shaft |23 and a pinion |24 on shaft |23 meshing with internal teeth of ringv gear |2|.

lRing gear |2|, which for convenience of this' description may be called the spindle gear, is supported on the platen 2| in bearingscoaxial with the turret (Fig. 1) for rotation independently thereof, and it is provided with external teeth meshing with a series of ypinions |25-(Fig. 13) spaced around the axis vconformably with the spacing of the work spindles S. Each pinion |25 is associated with one of-the work spindles and drives such spindle through a shaft |26,bevel gears |21, shaft 28 andrwormV |29 (carried by a bearing |29| securedfto spindle apron 5|), in mesh with a worm gear |30 on the spindle.- Shaft |28 is in splined connection with worm |29 to permit backing oif movements and radial adjustmentsvofr the spindle.

The back off cams 15 are .all -drivenin unison with the strokes ofthe cutter, and with compensation for rotation of the turret, by both Yof the driving means previously described; Crank shaft 34 drives a shaft 3| :by a' sprocket and chain drive |32, and shaft |'3| 'drives' an alined yshaft |33 through differential gearing-'contained vin a rotatable'housing |34. Shaft-133'` drives aringgea-r f I 35, here Acalledfor convenienceV the backxoff ring gear, through bevelV gears" |36," a

shaft `|31 and apinionl |38 meshing withxintere nal teeth on. said ring gear. The-back 'off ring 'gear is shown in Fig. 1 as supported on the spindle The gearing between the crank shaft 34 and Y back oifcam shaft' '|6'is of a combined ratio such that, if the differential gear housing |34 were stationary, the cam shafts 'l5 would make one rotation with each cycle of cutting andv return strokes of the cutter (or afraction of one rotation equal to the reciprocal of. the number of lobes of thecams if multi-lobed cams are provided) But, asl the cams are carried in an orbit by the turret and their pinions |39 are in rolling mesh with the back off ring gear |35, a compensatory incremental rotation must' be impartedto that yring gear to eliminate errorv in the timing ofthe-cams due to such planetary movement. Thisl compensation orv correction is eifected by imparting rotation to the differential housing 34 from the feed motor 96 through shaft |01, sprocket and chain drive |4|, shaft |42 andworm |43 which meshes with a worm gear |44 secured tothe housing |34.

The structure and physical relationship of the mechanisms thus comprehensively represented in the diagramv (Fig. 19) are shown in partial'ase semblages in other gures of the drawings.

One of the important novel features of the invention is the provision of means by which the `operator is notified whenever a spindlefreaches the gap in the cutter and asafeguard is afforded to prevent spoilage of a work piece which may not be1-properly loaded on the spindle. The machine is'- equipped with the usual start and stop switches,

, a. and b respectively (Fig 18), arrangedrfor manual operation to start and stopthe stroke and feed motors. In addition it is provided with automatically operated limit switches |46 and |41 (Fig. 14) which are inter-connected in circuit 'with any electric lamp l or other suitable signal device placed where it will attract the operators attentionvwhen activated, with the circuit` of feed `motor 96, and with automatic control devices. These switches are actuated by cams |48 and |49 (see also Fig. 7) on a shaft |50 which is driven from shaft |09 (Figs. 7 and 19) by bevel Agearpair |5|, shaft |52, pinion |53, face gear |54, shaft |55, worm |56 and worm gear |51 on shaft |50. Cams |43 and |49 are appropriately timed with the -rotation of the turret to cause limit switch |46 t0 be closed when each work spindle S arrives in loading position at the nearer end of the cutter gap G. This causes the lamp 1l to be lighted and, through a shunt circuit, to remain lighted after the cam passes the switch and while the spindletraverses the gap. When thespindle nearly reaches the farther endofthe gap, cam

|49 operates the limit switch |41 to close cir-V cuits which cause the feed motor to stop, if the starting switch a is not first closed by the operar tor. Y

The gapis long enough to afford time, during its traversebyal spindley for the operator to re- -b'efojre'the spindle had advanced into cuttingrelation with the initial group of cutter teeth t1. But the feed motor can be started by closing the starting switch a after such stoppage and, if the starting switch is closed before the feed motor has been thus stopped, closing of the limit switch |41 is made ineffective to stop the feed motor.

The circuits through which the switches here described are interconnected with the motors, the signal device and intermediate contactors and automatic controllers are of standard character, well known and understood by those skilled in the electrical arts, wherefore it is deemed unnecessary to show them in detail. It is sufficient for this disclosure to make clear that the machine is provided with suitable electrical connections to perform the actions described.

IThe interchangeable cutters employed with this machine are large and heavy (16 inches more or less in pitch diameter), of ring form, and are centered on the adapter 32 by an internal beveled surface i551 and secured thereto by screws itt (Fig. l). To facilitate mounting and removing the cutters, I have provided a novel jack device shown partially in the last named gure and fully, on a larger scale, in'Fig. l5. The jack comprises a spider lS-l supported centrally on the upper face of the turret and having a central tubular part H52 which extends into the central passageway 90 of the turret and is centered therein by a tube |63 rising from a point on the base centrally beneath the turret hub. Spaces are left between the rim and arms of spider ISI and the tube |62 wide enough to permit free flow of lubricant and chips from the pan 89. A nut |64 is mounted and secured in the upper end of the tube |2, through which passes an externally and internally threaded sleeve |55 of which the external threads mesh with the nut. A screw rod 65 is contained in the sleeve |65 engaging the internal threads thereof and it carries a disk |61 on its upper end.

A face gear |63 is mounted rotatably in the tubular part |62, having a, huh portion which occupies a bearing therein and surrounds the threaded sleeve |65. It carries a key |68| which projects into a longitudinal groove in the side of sleeve |55 forming a splined connection. A pinion |69 mounted in a bearing in the side of the tube |52 meshes with face gear I 8B and has a projecting shank carrying a non-circular head on its outer end. When it becomes necessary to raise a cutter to the spindle adapter 32, or lower a cutter thereirom, a socket wrench I'H, to which a crank H2 having a long shank is connected by means of a universal joint H3, is applied to the head lli and rotated in the appropriate direction. At such times the cutter is supported'and centered by a circular plate |15 which is laid on disk |61.

The screw rod |65 and the internal threads of the screw sleeve |65 may be of opposite hand from the external thread of the sleeve andthe thread of nut It, or of the same hand with a shorter lead, according as it may be desired to raise and lower the cutter with augmented motion or a differential motion. It has been found that the weight and inertia of the cutter arev ordinarily sufncient to prevent rotation of the screw rod with the sleeve |65; but any tendency to rotate can be checked by the operator. However, it is within my contemplation to apply positive means for withholding the screw rod from rotation.

What I claim is:

1. A planetary gear shaping machine comprising a supporting structure, a turret Vmounted to rotate thereon, a cutter spindle mounted to reciprocate along the axis of the turret, a circular gear shaper cutter connected with said spindle concentrically, having peripheral planing teeth and a toothless gap at one side, a number of work spindles rotatably supported on the turret in positions for holding work pieces in operative relationship to the cutter, means for rotating the turret, means for simultaneously rotating the work spindles relative to the turret at a rate corresponding to the pitch circle ratios of the cutter and work pieces, means for stopping the rotation of the turret when each work spindle approaches the further limit of such gap after having passed the nearer limit thereof, means for starting rotation of the turret, and means interconnecting said stopping and starting means to cause actuation of said stopping means should said starting means remain inoperative.

2. A planetary gear shaping machine comprising a supporting structure, a turret mounted to rotate thereon, a cutter spindle mounted to reciprocate along the axis of the turret, a circular gear shaper cutter connected with said spindle concentrically, raving peripheral planing teeth and a toothless gap at one side, a number of work spindles rotatably sup-ported on the turret in positions for holding work pieces in operative relationship to the cutter, an electric motor geared to the Vturret for imparting rotary movement thereto, mechanism driven in unison therewith for rotating the work spindles at angular velocities and in directions such as to rotate work pieces carried thereby with respect to the cutter in the same manner as a planet gear rotating in mesh with its sun gear, an electric signal device, switches coupled in controlling relation with said motor and signal device respectively, means driven in timed relation with the rotation of the turretv for actuating said signal device and causing the motor to stop while each work spindle is adjacent to the toothless gap of the cutter, means for starting said motor, and means interconnecting said starting and stopping means to cause actuation of said stopping means should said starting means remain inoperative.

3. A planetary gear shaper comprising a supporting structure, a cutter spindle mounted for axial reciprocating motion, a circular gear shaper cutter secured to said spindle coaxially therewith, yhaving a peripheral series of planing teeth anda toothless gap at one side, a turret mounted on the supporting structure to rotate about an axis in alinement with the cutter spindle axis, work spindle aprons supported on the turret, a work spindle carried by each of said aprons in position to hold a work piece up to the cutter for being incised therewith and to carry it around the circuit of the cutter teeth, said apron being movable radially on the turret for backing off the work spindle and returning it to cutting position in time with return strokes and cutting strokes, respectively, of the cutter spindle, a back on ring gear coaxially disposed with respect to the turret, cutter spindle reciprocating means, turret and work spindle rotating means, mechanism driven by the two last named means for rotating said back off gear, and connections through which said back gear causes backing oli` and return movements of the several work spindle aprons.

4. A planetary gear shaped comprising a supporting structure, a cutter spindle mounted for axial reciprocating motion, a circular gear shaper cutter `secured to said-spindle coaxially vther-ef I with, Shaving a peripheral series of planing teeth and a toothless gap at one side,` a turret mounted on the supporting structure to rotate `about an ax'isin. alinemcnt with the cutter spindle'axis,

Workspindleaprons supported on theturret, a

work spindlecarried by each of said aprons `in positiony to hold a work piece up to the cutter for being incised thereby and'to carry it around the circuit, Iof the cutter teeth, ,saidapron being movable radially on thegturret for backing oi the work spindle and returningl i-t to cuttingY position in time with return strokes and cutting strokes, respectively, yof ,the cutter spindle, ,a Vback off ring,gear coaxially disposed with respect .to the turret, cutterreciprocating means,` turret and work Aspindle rotating means,l mechanism driven by the last named means for rotating said back off Yring gear, Iconnections through which saidback ofi ring-gear causes backing -off and return movements of the several work spindle f aprons, a controller for said turret rotating axial valinement with lthe cutter spindlework vspindles carried by the turret in locations `spaced around .said Iaxis for holding work pieces in vcutting relation to the cutter and carrying such work pieces around the. cutter, meansfor reciprocating the cutter spindle, vmeans forl rotating the turret, means `for rotating the vspindles relatively last .narnegjl .rneansV nd the cutter spindle recnrocatingmean r rotating said back on? cams in time with Athe,recipfrcations of thecutter spindle. Y

an ary geard generating machine comi N l p .orting structure, .a cutter spindle mou ed onsaidstructure'for axial reciprocation, in,asubstantially vertcal path, means for recip ating `said .cutter spindle, a circular cutterysecuredto the lowerend of said spindle hayingxperipheral .planing teeth and a toothless-gap at one side,v ajturret mounted on the suppe ingstructurebelow the cutter and arranged to`r rotatezabout an axisalined with the cutter spindle axis, a jack mounted on the turret coaxially therewith, mechanism yformoving said jack axially toward and away from the cutter spindlesoastoliftacutter toward the spindle or. :lower :a ycutter ,-thereflolifl, -Work spindle aprons mountedonthe turretfaround vthe axis thereof withprovis-ions for backing .ofi movement. away fromttheaxis ,and-return movement toward the axis, 1afwork spindle carried kby each apron adapt- :to the turret around their own axes in planetary timing with respect to the cutter, a jackmounted yon :the turret centrally thereof, and;meansV for ,partr` ofthe' cutter spindle on which the'v cutter is mounted, said ljackl being adapted, to support the Vcutter concentrically with the spindle when `thecutter Ais detached from thespindle and lcarry it toward or away from the spindle,

6. A planetary gear generating machine com- 'moving said' jack toward and away ,irom thatprising a vsupporting structure, a cutter spindle mounted ronV said structure for axial reciprocationl in a substantially vertical :patin` a-l circular lcutter secured'Adetachably-` yto the flower end of said ispindle vhaving peripheraliplaning teeth and .agteothlessgap at one side, aturret mountedon thesupporfting structure below the cutter and arranged to rotate about an axis alined' withthe cutter spindle axis, a jack mounted on the turret coaxially therewith, Vmechanismiior moving said `j aclraxially toward and away from the cutter spindle so as to liftl Va cutter toward the. spindle or lower a cutter therefrom, work spindle apronsV mounted on the turret around the axisthereof with provisions for backing oii movement away from the axis and return movement toward the axis, a work spindle carried by each apron adapted to support a work piece in position to be acted on by the cutter and to carry the work f piece around the cutter, means for backing oi and returning the several aprons comprising back oi cams, each disposed to impart motion to one of the aprons, cutter spindle reciprocating means, turret and work spindle rotating means, and mechanism controlled by both of said fmoverientfto I-rncniunted coax-ially with the turret-in geared conreciprocations wof ed-to support aworl; piecein position to be acted o n by the.,cutter andV to carry the work piece around the butter, ,means forv backing off .and returning the several aprons comprising back off cams, each disposed to impart motion, to one `of theaprons, cutter spindle reciprocating means, turret-and -work `spindle rotating means,.mecha nism controlled by both of said last named means vfor Arotating.said back, oi cams v-in time with the the cutter spindle, and stop means-organizedtointerrupt .the turret driving meanswhen each ,work'spindle `is in a predetermined position adjacent -to the toothless gap ofthe cutter. l t l g8. A planetary, gear generating machine comprising a supportingistructure, a cutter spindle mounted to, reciprocate axially on said structure, a` circular gear. shapercutter secured to one end of said spindle, a turret -mounted to krotate on thesupporting"structure about an axis alined with the ,Cutter .spindle-axis, work `srirllle aprons ,mounted on, he turretwith provisions for backing offA etu-rnl movements-away from and vtoward said axis, a :work jspindle mounted in each of said aprons arranged :to hQld and Carry a Work -piece in planetary cutting relationship to the cutter, 1 means ,for so moving the aprons comprisingfjba'ck iffcams, each vdisposed to impart ye of the aprons, a back oi gear Anection,,withallcf Said` cams for rotating the latter. :whenrotated itself, motive means-coupled with; the cutter-spindle ,for reciprocating it, other motive means coupled with the turret and work spindlespfor rotatingthe turret and spindles,

` niechanismincluding a differential gear between the spindle, eciprocating .means and back off gear .for :impartingrotation thereto in timed relation .witthflreeiprocations of the t cutter spindle, and

mechanism. driven bythe turret rotating -means Y for transmitting rotation to said diierenti-al gear in a measure to obviate error in the timing of the backoi cam due to rotation of the turret.

' 9. In a planetary gear generating machine, the combination with a reciprocating cutter spindle, a circular cutter carried thereby, and a turret rotatable about the axis of the cutter, of a work spindle apron carrier mounted on the turret with provision for substantially radial adjustment thereon, a work spindle apron mounted cn said carrier and relatively reciprocable thereon away from and toward the turret axis for backing off and returning Work to cutting position, a Work spindle mounted rotatably on said apron, a helical rack mounted rotatably on the apron with its axis extending radially of the turret, a backing off lever'including a gear segment infmesh with thehelical rack, a backing off cam arranged to act on said lever forimpartng movement to the apron, and an adjusting screw coaxial with said helical rack mounted on the turret and in threaded connection with the apron carrier for adjusting the spindle toward or aw-ay from the turret axis, said screw being in splined connection with the helical rack and being of equal lead and opposite inclination to the thread of the helical rack.

10. In al machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a turret mounted thereon, a number of spindles rotatably supported on the turret in locations spaced around the axis of said turret, means for rotating said turret, means for rotating the spindles relatively to the turret about theil` own axes in planetary timing with respect to the rotation of the turret, means for backing off said spindles comprising backoi cams, means for moving said backoff cams, and means to impart an incremental movement to said cams to compensate for movement of said spindles about the axis of said turret.

ll. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a turret mounted thereon, a number of spindles rotatably supported on the turret in locations spaced around the axis of said turret, means for rotating said turret, means for rotating the spindles relatively to the turret about their own axes `in planetary timing with respect to the rotation of :the turret, means for backing off said spindles including backoff cams rotatably mounted with respect to said spindles, means for rotating said backoi cams and means to impart an incremental rotation to said backoii cams to compensate for movement of said spindles about the axis of said turret.

12. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a turret mounted thereon, a number of spindles rotatably supported on the turret in locations spaced around the axis of said turret, means for rotating said turret, means for rotating the spindles relatively to the turret about their own axes in planetary timing with respect to the rotation of the turret, means for backing Oli said spindles including a backoi ring gear rotatably mounted on the supporting structure, backoi cams geared to said ring gear, means to rotate said ring gear and means to impart an additional rotation to said ring gear to compensate for movement of said spindles about the axis of said turret.

13. A gear Shaper comprising a supporting structure, a cutter spindle mounted for axial reciprocating motion, a gear Shaper cutter secured to said spindle coaxially therewith, a work support adjacent to said cutter spindle, a workfcarriage mounted on said work support, guide means for said carriage so that s-aid carriage may be moved toward and away from said cutter spindle, means to move said carriage, a work holding apron slideably mounted in said carriage, a backo" rcam rotatably mounted in said work support and means between said backoff cam and said apron so as to impart backoi motion to a work spindle rotatably journaled in said apron.

14. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a cutter spindle mounted on said structure for axial reciprocation, a circular cutter secured to the lower end of said spindle having peripheral planing teeth thereon, a turret mounted on the supporting structure below the cutter and arranged to rotate about an axis alined with the cutter spindle axis, Work aprons mounted on the turret around 'the axis thereof with provision for backing off movement away from the axis and return movement toward the axis, Work spindles carried by each apron adapted to support a work piece in position to be acted onby the cutter and to carry the work piece around the cutter, means for backing oil and returning the several aprons comprising backol cams, each disposed to impart motion to one of the aprons, cutter spindle reciprocating means, turret and work spindle rotating means and mechanism controlled by both of said lastnamed means and the cutter spindle reciprocating means for rot-ating said backoff cams in time with the reciprocations of the cutter spindle.

l5. A planetary gear shaping machine comprising a supporting structure, a turret mounted to rotate thereon, a cutter spindle mounted to reciprocate along the axis of the turret, a circular gear sh-aper cutter connected with said spindle concentrically, having peripheral planing teeth and a toothless gap at one side, a number of work spindles rotatably supported on the turret in positions for holding work pieces in operative relationship to the cutter, means for rotating the turret, means for simultaneously rotating the work spindles relative to the :turret at a rate corresponding to the pitch circle ratios of the cutter and work pieces, means for starting rotation of the turret and `means operative to stop :the rotation of said turret in the event that said starting means should not be actuated when each work spindle approaches the further limit of such gap.

EDWARD W. MILLER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES The Gap-Type Cutter, published by The Fellows Gear Shaper Co., printed in 1938. 

